December 13, 2007 - By Crom! The rumor mill has churned out a good one for you today, Conan fans. Two big names both associated with period genre movies are said to be in the running to star in and direct, respectively, Millennium Film/Nu Image's reboot of the Conan the Barbarian franchise.

Ain't It Cool News points out a French report at Mad-Movies.com, which claims that the producers want John McTiernan (The 13th Warrior, Predator, Die Hard) to direct the new Conan film.

Furthermore, 300 star Gerard Butler is said to be a contender to play the Robert E. Howard character made famous on-screen by Arnold Schwarzeneggar.

Are these rumors to be believed? Butler has been linked with everything under the sun ever since 300, but with him having dropped out of Escape From New York and the Untouchables prequel being delayed perhaps he could squeeze in a trip to Cimmeria.

McTiernan, on the other hand, is looking at jail time for his part in the infamous Hollywood wiretapping case. He was sentenced this past September to four months in federal prison for lying to the FBI about hiring now-incarcerated private eye Anthony Pellicano to illegally wiretap producer Charles Roven. McTiernan's lawyers pledged at that time to appeal the sentence.